[UnklFungus]

This http://www.defensivecarry.com/vbulletin/defensive-ammunition-ballistics/89115-357-black-bear.html

Got me wondering. Has anyone hunted with 45 ACP? I have Fiocchi 230gr FMJ. I have always used 30.06 168 Nosler Ballistic Tip or 35 Whelen 250gr Speer soft point, which I have seen go the whole length of a deer brisket to hips!
So the prospect of hunting with this sounds fun, but mostly it will be piece of mind backup!

 

[HotGuns]

This was addressed when some members from the CastBoolits forum got together and built a bullet specifically for hunting. They figured out the largest metplat that could be successfully fed by the ACP gun and made a blueprint.Then they sent off the mold to the Lee Company and had a custom built bullet mold buy. I got in on this buy and bought a mold and tried them out with several different powder loads.

All of them worked well and all of them were pretty accurate. Although I have yet to whack a deer, I have whacked several other critters with them and they performed as well as anything out there killing all of them dead right there.

I've always thought that the .45 ACP was a bit light for deer though several people that I know have shot deer with them. I've dispatched a few deer with my Glock 21, but it was with the Remington Gold Dot that was issued to me, and the deer were in bad shape to begin with.

With the right bullet it might be OK out to say, 40 yards or so, but much beyond that would be pushing it I think.

 

[digitalexplr]

Dispatched a deer one night with my .38spl. I was carrying 158gr SWC's if I remember correctly (small department. We carried whatever we wanted.) This was 30 years ago.

 

[OD*]

I have two friends that hunt regularly with 1911s in 45acp.

Jared took his small Texas dear with 230gr Gold Dots, they seemed to have worked very well indeed.

(I cropped the picture, I don't know if he would care if I used it or not.)

 

[HotGuns]

No doubt about that one.

 

[joshe]

Deer hunting with a 1911? I think the only more manly way to do it would be with a knife or sharp stick

 

[safarigene]

Shot this guy with WWB 230 jhp's.

 

[obxned]

A good accurate .45 with a full power load behind a good JHP will do the job, but there are far better choices for hunting.

 

[JohnD13]

Any idea what the range was on that deer OD? Don't see any powder burns!

 

[OD*]

Any idea what the range was on that deer OD? Don't see any powder burns!

IIRC, Jared said it was just under 40 yards.

 

[jwhite75]

Well it will get the job done...obviously, but an ethical hunter must make absoultely sure of shot placement as we all see it is marginal in most situations, or it would be a much more popular choice. No need in shooting an animal and then it runnign off and dying a death undeserving of one of these beautiful creatures. Becaus they run off and the hunter cant find them and they die from infection or lay and rot in the woods.

 

[edr9x23super]

I used my carry gun to drill a 300 pound feral hog a few years back; don't have a pic of the hog, but do have the slug I got out, for the record it was a 165 grain corbon round.....

 

[OD*]

Shot this guy with WWB 230 jhp's.

Nice piggy. :congrats:

 

[Cuda66]

Well it will get the job done...obviously, but an ethical hunter must make absoultely sure of shot placement as we all see it is marginal in most situations, or it would be a much more popular choice. No need in shooting an animal and then it runnign off and dying a death undeserving of one of these beautiful creatures. Becaus they run off and the hunter cant find them and they die from infection or lay and rot in the woods.

That applies whether one is using a .22 short or a .500 S&W.

Know your caliber, know it's limitations, and know your (as a shooter) limitations.

I know someone who took a deer at about 15 yards with a G21 and a 230+P XTP. Fully penetrated the chest, deer dropped within 20 yards.

 

[packinnova]

My uncle took down an 8 pointer on his property in WV 2 seasons ago with 230gr gold dots from a 1911 at approx 20-25 yrds. It can be done.

 

[PastorPack]

Well it will get the job done...obviously, but an ethical hunter must make absoultely sure of shot placement as we all see it is marginal in most situations, or it would be a much more popular choice. No need in shooting an animal and then it runnign off and dying a death undeserving of one of these beautiful creatures. Becaus they run off and the hunter cant find them and they die from infection or lay and rot in the woods.

+1 Well said, jwhite75.

There are a few occassions where your carry piece may be preferable, such as an extremely close shot, but I'd rather drop an animal cleanly. Use the right tool for the job at hand.

 

[OD*]

That applies whether one is using a .22 short or a .500 S&W.

Know your caliber, know it's limitations, and know your (as a shooter) limitations.

I know someone who took a deer at about 15 yards with a G21 and a 230+P XTP. Fully penetrated the chest, deer dropped within 20 yards.

Exactly! It's normally the shooter that isn't up to the job, not the cartridge.

We wouldn't hesitate to use a 230gr .45ACP on a 250lb aggressor, but it's not adequate for a 120lb (BIG deer) thin skinned animal.

It wouldn't be my first choice, but I wouldn't get all worked up if I had to use it.

 

[nedrgr21]

Exactly! It's normally the shooter that isn't up to the job, not the cartridge.

We wouldn't hesitate to use a 230gr .45ACP on a 250lb aggressor, but it's not adequate for a 120lb (BIG deer) thin skinned animal.

It wouldn't be my first choice, but I wouldn't get all worked up if I had to use it.

Dat's not a big deer, at least not everywhere you go. :image035:

 

[jca1]

Handgun hunting is not easy but it is fun. You have to be quiet and still and very patient to get a shot with a handgun. Opposed to sitting in a curtained box stand where you could dance a jig if you wanted to and still get a 200 yard shot with a rifle. If you want to handgun hunt a .45acp will do the trick every time, so will a .357, .38special, heck a .22 will do it if you hit the deer right. I'm going to hunt this whole season with my .357.

 

[alaskazimm]

Another thing I didn't see brought up is check your state's hunting regs. Most states have a minimum caliber and/or barrel length restriction on handgun hunting.